Printing press



June 23, 1925. 1,543,526

R. J. SMOTHERS, PRINTI-NG PRESS Filed April 2. 1924 I' 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

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June 23, 1925. 1,543,526 R. J. SMQTHERS PRINTING PRESS Filed April 2, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES ROBERT JARVIS SMOTHER-S, OF HOLYOKE,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF- TO JAMES T. ROBINSON, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

PRINTING PRESS.

Application filed April 2,

To all whom it may concem: Be it known that 1, ROBERT JARVIS SMOTHERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Holyoke, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to printing presses, more particularly to the impression plate or blanket and the plate or blanket roll therefor, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, means whereby a flexible plate, impression surface or blanket, is conveniently attached, stretched in operative position upon and secured in cylindrical form to the roll body and with the end termini of the plate, impression surface or blanket permanently held in abutting engagement with the overlapping of the end terminal portions of the plate on the formation of a gap between said termini, under such conditions providing a continuous design during the operation of the roll with the plate thereon in the manner aforesaid. A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, means for fixedly securing an impression plate, surface or blanket in the form of a true cylinder to a blanket roll, and with the end termini of such plate, surface or blanket in abutting engagement where by the continuity from a cylindrical standpoint will be maintained during the operation of the blanket roll and further puck ering, slipping or other irregularitiesnin the plate will be prevented when the plate, surface or blanket is active, under such conditions insuring satisfactory printing.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a plate or blanket roll for printing resses which is com arativel sim le in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly eflicient in its use, readily assembled and inexpensive to set up.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying the roll body, thereby preventing 1924. Serial No. 703,775.

Figure 3 1s a section on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the clamping element.

Figure 5 is an inverted perspective view of the pivoted segmental section of the roll body.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view, in cross section, of the roll and further illustrating the position of the flexible plate, impression surface or blanket prior to fixedly securing it in cylindrical form to the roll body.

Figure 7 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 6 with the flexible plate, impression surface or blanket fixedly secured in position upon the roll body.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the roll consists of a shaft 1, a sectional body portion referred to generally by the reference character 2 and which is cylindrical in contour, as Well as being hollow, and a pair of head members 3, 4, and each of which is toothed, as at 5, to provide a driven gear. It is obvious, however, that the driven gear can be set up independent of ahead and secured thereto.

The body portion 2 of the roll consists of a fixed section 6, which is formed with an enlarged opening 23 having one side edge thereof inwardly bevelled, as at 7, and its other side edge squared, as at 8. The section 6 has its inner face provided with an enlargement 9 flush with the edge 8 and rovided. with a series of sockets 10 havmg threaded walls.

The body portion 2 further includes a pivoted segment-shaped section 11 which has one side terminal thereof bevelled, as at 12, to engage the bevelled terminus 7 of the section 6, in a manner as shown in enlargement 13, centrally thereof, is a pivot rod 14, projecting from each end of the enlargement 13 and journalled in the heads 3 and 4. The heads 3 and 4 are fixedly secured in any suitable manner to the ends of the section 6.

The other side edge or terminus of the section 11 is squared, as at 15, and the inner face of the section 11 is formed with an inwardly extending enlargement 16 of the same length as the length of the section 11,

and the outer side edge of the enlargement 16 is flush with edge 15 and the inner-side edge of the enlargement 16 is bevelled, as at 17. Each end of the enlargement 16 1s formed with a socket 18 having a threaded wall and the forward side of the enlargement 16 is provided with a series of sockets 19 having a threaded wall.

The body portion 2 further includes a pair of removable sections 20 and 21 which are secured to the flexible plate, impression surface or blanket 22 and constitutes attaching members for said plate, impression surface or blanket, and the plate, impression surface or blanket will be hereinafter generally the section 21.

The section 20, as well as section 21, is in the form of a bar of the same length as the width of the plate 22 and of the same length as the length of the section 11. The length of the section 11 is less than the length of section 6, and the latter is provided with the o ening 23 in which snugly engage the sectlons 11, 20 and 21 of the body portion when the said sections are mounted in operative position so as to set up the body portion 2 as a complete cylinder. The outer faces of the sections 20 and 21 form a continuation of the outer faces of the sections 6 and 11 and the outer face of the section 11 forms a continuation of the outer face of the section 6.

One end of the plate 22 is bevelled, as at 24, and the other end of the plate 22 is bevelled, as at 25. When the plate 7 is se- 1 cured in position in the manner as shown in Figure 7, the bevels at the termini of the plate extend in parallel planes. The bevelling of the ends of the plate provide feather edges.

The section 20, which as before stated, is in the form of a bar, has one side edge thereof bevelled, as at 26, and which forms a continuation of the bevelled end 25, and said section 20 is furthermore provided with a. series of sockets 27 and an opening 28 leading from each socket and which is adapted to register with the socket 10.

One side edge of the section 21, which is in the form of a bar as before stated, is bevelled, as at 29 and which forms a oontinuation of the bevel 24, and said section is furthermore provided with a series of sockets 30, each having leading therefrom an opening 31 adapted to register with one of a series of sockets 32, formed in the enlargement 16. The walls of the sockets 32 are threaded.

The sections 20 and 21 are to be permanently secured to the inner face of the plate 22, at the ends thereof, and may be secured in any suitable manner, such as brazin or welding and when said sections 20 an 21 are positioned to complete the roll body the bevelled edges of said sections seat against each other throughout and when in such position the bevelled ends 24 and 25 of the plate 7 seat against each other throughout, in a manner as shownin Figure 7, whereby the plate will be set up in the form of a true cylinder and with the termini thereof in abutting engagement. By this arrangement it does not necessitate the overlappin of the end terminal portions of the plate with any part of the roll body or any attachment utilized for clamping, securing or fixing the plate in operative position on the roll body.

The section 20, with the plate secured thereto, is detachably connected to the enlargement 9 by headed hold-fast devices 33 extending through the openings 28 and threadedly engaging with the walls of the sockets 10 and with the heads of said devices seated in the sockets 27 The section 21 is detachably secured to the section 11 by removable hold-fast devices 34; extending through the openings 31 and threadedly engaging with the walls of the sockets 32 and with the heads of the devices seated in the sockets 30.

Coacting with the section 11 for clamping it in segmental relation with respect to the sections 6, 20 and 21, is a clamping element consisting of a shiftable bar 35 extending lengthwise of the body portion 2, and between the enlargements 13 and 16 of the section 11 and further extending through the heads 3 and 4 and having a polygonalshape terminal portion 36 at each end thereof. Carried by the bar 35, adjacent the polygonal-shaped terminals 36 thereof and positioned against the outer face of the heads3, 4, as well as being fixedly secured to the bar 35, is a circular disk 37 having its edge provided with spaced pockets 38. The

bar 35 is provided with aseries of cam members 39 arranged in spaced relation and positioned within the body portion 2 and which are adapted to engage the bevelled face 17 of the enlargement 16 for clamping the section 11 in position to form a continuation of the section 6. To prevent the accidental shifting of the clamping element to released position the head 3, as well asthe head 4, has secured to the outer face thereof a pair of interiorly threaded annular keepers 40, 41 opposing as well as spaced from each other and having a disk 37 arranged therebetween. Threadedly engaging with each pair of said keepers is a pair of oppositely extending holding screws 42 for seating in a pair of the pockets 38 of a disk 37 for the purpose of maintaining the clamping element in clamping position.

To further maintain the section 11 in the position as shown in Figure 7 which would be a continuation of the section 6, a pair of holding elements is provided, as indicated at 43, 44, and which extend through the heads 3, 4 and have threaded engagement with the sockets 18.

When the section 11 is mounted in the position as shown in Figure 7, the space formed therebetween and the section 6 is completely closed by the sections 20 and 21 and whereby the section 20 forms a continuation of the section 6, the section 21 forms a continuation of the section 20 and the section 11 forms a continuation of the section 21 and with the sections 20 and 21 in abutting engagement throughout, the sections 11 and 6 in abutting engagement throughout, the sections 21 and 11 in abutting engagement throughout, and the sections 6 and 20 in abutting engagement throughout, and by this arrangement the body portion 2 of the cylinder is not provided with a gap at any part of its circumference.

The plate 22 is prepared or completed independent of the roll, and after theplate has been prepared the sections 20 and 21 are secured therewith. The plate with the sections 20 and 21 is then mounted in and secured to the roll and with the sections 20 and 21 completing the body portion 2 of the roll and by this arrangement it does not necessitate the subinerging of the roll in an acid bath to etch the design on the plate, as the design is etched prior to the securing of the plate to the cylinder.

The construction set forth provides means whereby a flexible plate is conveniently attached, stretched in operative position upon and secured in true cylinder form to the roll body, and with the ends of the plate permanently held in abutting engagement to prevent any possibility of the formation of a gap therebetween, under such cond tions when the plate is active the design is continuous upon the paper, textile fabric or material operated upon, and, therefore, unusually satisfactory printin is assured, an although the preferred em )odiment of the nvention is as illustrated and described, yet 1t s to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is 1. A blanket roll comprising a body portion formed of a fixed, a pivoted and a pair of removable sections, said removable sections adapted to be secured to the inner faceat the ends of a flexible plate, said pivoted section when in normal position forming a continuation of the fixed section, the opposed ends of the fixed and pivoted sections being bevelled and seating against each other when the pivoted section is in normal position, and said removable sections when in normal position abutting against each other and one abutting against the pivoted section and the other against the fixed section, the abutting portions of said removable sections being bevelled and forming continuations of the termini of the plate.

2. A blanket roll comprising a body portion formed of a fixed, a pivoted and a pair of removable sections, said removable sections adapted to be secured to the inner face at the ends of a flexible plate, said pivoted section when in normal position forming a continuation of the fixed section, the opposed ends of the fixed and pivoted sections being bevelled and seating against each other when the pivoted section is in normal position, said removable sections when in normal position abutting against each other and one abutting against the pivoted section and the other against the fixed section, the abutting portions of said removable sections being bevelled and forming continuations of the termini of the plate, a clamping element for clamping said pivoted section in normal position, and locking means for said clamping element.

3. A plate or blanket roll comprising a body portion formed of a fixed, a pivoted and a pair of removable sections, said removable sections adapted to besecured to the inner face at the ends of a flexible plate, said pivoted section when in normal position forming a continuation of the fixed section, the opposed ends of the fixed and pivoted sections being bevelled and seating against each other when the pivoted section is in normal position, said removable sections when in normal position abutting against each other and one abutting against the pivoted section and the other against the fixed section, the abutting portions of said removable sections being bevelled and forming continuations of the termini of the plate, means for detachably connecting one of said removable sections to said pivoted section,

and means for detachably connecting the other of said removable sections to said fixed section.

4. A plate or blanket roll comprising a body portion formed of a fixed, a pivoted and a pair of removable sections, said removable sections adapted to be secured to the inner face at the ends of a flexible plate, said pivoted section when in normal position forming a continuation of the fixed section, the opposed ends of the fixed and pivoted sections being bevelled and seatingagainst each other when the pivoted section is in normal position, said removable sections when in normal position abutting against each other and one abutting against the ivoted section and the other against the xed section, the abutting ortions of said removable sections being velled and forming continuations of the termini of the (plate, a clamping element for clamping sai pivoted section in normal position, locking means for said clamping e ement, means for detachably connecting one of said removable sections to'said pivoted section, and means for detachably connecting the other of said removable sections to said fixed section.

5. A blanket roll comprising a body portion including a fixed section, a pair of bevelled removable sections each adapted to be secured to the inner face at one end of a flexible impression plate and having one side thereof forming a continuation of an end edge of the plate, said body portion further provided with a pivoted section forming a continuation of the fixed section, one of said removable sections forming a continuation of the fixed section and the other of said removable sections forming a continuation of the pivoted section and the other removable section, means for securing one of said removable sections to said pivoted section and the other removable section to the fixed section, and means for securing said pivoted section in normal position whereby the opposed end edges of the plate will be retained in abutting engagement throughout.

6. A blanket roll comprising a non-collapsible cylindrical body portion adapted to support thereon a flexible impression plate with the end edges thereof opposing each other, said body portion including means whereby the end edges of the plate are positioned in overlapping abutting engagement throughout, said means being removable from said body portion and retaining devices for said means.

7. In a printing press the combination with a flexible impression plate capable of bein arranged in cylindrical form and havin velled end edges, of a non-collapsible roll supporting said plate and including means for maintaining the plate in cylindrical form and with the end edges thereof in overlapping abutting engagement thro ghout. I

8. In a printing press the combination with a flexible impression plate capable of being arranged in cylindrical form and havin I bevelled end edges, of a non-collapsible r01 supporting said plate and including means for maintaining the plate in cylindrical form and with the end edges thereof in overlapping abutting engagement throughout exteriorly of the roll.

9. In a rinting press the combination with a flexible impression plate capable of being arran ed in cylindrical form and having bevelle end edges, of a non-collapsible roll supporting said plate and including means for maintaining the plate in cylindrical form and with the end edges thereof in overlapping abutting engagement throughout exteriorly of the roll, and clamping and locking elements for said means.

10. In a rinting press the combination with a flexible impression plate capable of being arranged in cylindrical form and having feathered end edges, of a no -collapsible roll for removably supporting said plate and including a series of sections for maintaining the plate in cylindrical form, certain of said sections being removable and fixedly secured to the inner face of said plate at the ends thereof and forming continuations of said end-edges, and means for fixedly securing the said removable sections of said roll in position to maintain said end edges in overlapping abutting engagement throughout.

11. In a printing press the combination with a flexible impression plate capable of being arranged in cylindrical form and having inclined end edges, of a non-collapsible roll for removably supporting said plate and includin a series of sections for maintaining the p ate in cylindrical form, certain of said sections being removable with respect to the others and fixedly secured to the inner face of said plate at the ends thereof and forming inclined continuations of said end edges, and means for fixedly securing the said removable sections of said roll in osition to maintain said end edges in over apping abutting engagement throughout exteriorly of the roll and the outer corners of said end edges flush throughout with respect to each other.

12. In a printing press the combination with a flexible impression plate capable of being arranged in cylindrical form and having inclined end edges, of a non-collapsible roll for removably supporting said plate and includin a series of sections for maintaining the p ate in cylindrical form, certain of said sections bein removable with respect to the others and fixedly secured to the inner face of said plate at the ends thereof and forming inclined continuations of said end edges, and means for fixedly securing the said removable sections of said roll in position to maintain said end edges in overlapping abutting engagement throughout exteriorly of the roll, and clamping and locking elements for the said sections of the roll and the outer corners of said end edges flush throughout with respect to each other.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

ROBERT JARVIS SMOTHERS. 

